Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly targets the body’s own tissue, and the same diagnosis can look very different from one person to the next.
That is why a personalized health review matters: it looks at symptoms, lab markers, nutrition, hormones, gut function, stress load and family history together, to clarify what may be driving the picture in one particular person.
רפואה פונקציונלית – ראובן בקרמס approaches this through Dr.
Bek, a licensed chiropractor and naturopath (New York State) with more than 40 years of experience in holistic and functional medicine.
The review combines Functional Lab Testing, Nutritional Consultation and Hormone Balance assessment, with a focus on the root cause rather than on symptoms alone.
If you want to know whether this fits your situation, book the free 15-minute initial consultation.
Why do autoimmune diseases look different from person to person?
The National Institutes of Health recognizes more than 80 autoimmune conditions, among them rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and multiple sclerosis.
Each affects different tissue, and even within one diagnosis the experience varies widely.
Take Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition of the thyroid gland.
One person feels exhausted, cold and heavy.
Another feels anxious, with a racing heart during a flare.
Both carry the same label, yet their daily reality is not the same.
Several factors are studied as contributors to this variation:
- Genetic predisposition, including a family history of thyroid, joint or skin conditions
- Dietary triggers, such as gluten in people with celiac disease
- Past infections, including viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus, which researchers continue to study
- Long-term psychological and physical stress
- Hormonal transitions such as pregnancy, the postpartum period and menopause, which often coincide with the onset or change of symptoms
- The state of the gut barrier, sometimes called “intestinal permeability” (how easily substances pass from the gut into the bloodstream), an area of ongoing research
This is the idea behind “biochemical individuality”, the principle that each person has a different nutrient status, hormonal rhythm, stress response and detoxification capacity.
As one clinician experienced in functional medicine describes it, “two people with the same diagnosis on paper can have completely different stories behind it.”
None of this means a single cause can be named for everyone.
It means a standard checklist rarely tells the whole story, and the details of one person’s history often matter.
What does a personalized health review include?
At Dr.
Bek’s clinic the process starts with a free 15-minute initial consultation, whose purpose is to check whether the approach suits you.
There is no obligation to continue after it.
The second step is a comprehensive assessment.
It covers nutrition, hormones, vitamins and lifestyle, and it also looks at the wider picture: how body systems connect, emotional patterns, and family health history.
This is the foundation of Root Cause Analysis, which asks why symptoms are appearing and not only how to quiet them.
A review typically gathers the following information:
- Your symptom timeline, including when things changed and what was happening in your life then
- Existing diagnoses, medications and supplements
- Previous blood tests and specialist reports
- Eating patterns, digestion, sleep and energy through the day
- Stress levels and emotional load
- Relatives with autoimmune or thyroid conditions
The third step is building Personalized Treatment Plans.
Depending on what the assessment shows, a plan may combine techniques such as acupuncture, functional nutrition, NLP or EFT, and applied kinesiology (a method that uses muscle testing as part of the assessment).
Bringing these under one roof means the plan is coordinated and not a pile of separate recommendations.
The approach draws on current nutritional and hormonal research.
The aim is to support the body and, where possible, improve how you feel, without promising any particular result.
Which lab tests can add useful context?
Testing is chosen individually.
Nobody needs every test, and a result only has meaning next to the symptoms and history around it.
A person can feel unwell with values that fall inside the standard reference range, which is why the review reads numbers in context.
| Area explored | Examples of markers | Why it can matter |
|---|---|---|
| Immune activity | Anti-TPO and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, ANA (antinuclear antibodies) | “Autoantibodies” are antibodies that react against the body’s own tissue, and they can point toward a particular condition |
| Inflammation | CRP, ESR | These give a general sense of inflammatory activity over time |
| Nutrient status | Vitamin D (25-hydroxy), vitamin B12, ferritin, magnesium | Low levels may add to fatigue, weakness or poor recovery, and vitamin D is involved in immune regulation |
| Thyroid and hormones | TSH, free T4, free T3, cortisol, sex hormones | Thyroid disorders often appear alongside other autoimmune conditions, and hormonal balance affects energy and mood |
| Gut and digestion | Stool analysis, celiac serology (tTG-IgA) | Digestive function and gut microbes are linked to immune behavior in current research |
The clinic offers Functional Lab Testing alongside Nutritional Deficiency Testing and Gut Microbiome Testing, so findings can be put together into one picture.
Autoimmune markers are usually ordered together with your treating specialist, and the review works with the results you already have so that tests are not repeated without reason.
Can a personalized review work alongside my specialist’s care?
Yes, and that is the intended use.
A rheumatologist, endocrinologist or gastroenterologist manages the diagnosis and prescribes medication.
A functional review adds a different layer: nutrition, stress, hormones and lifestyle factors that may influence how you feel day to day.
Never stop or change a prescribed medication on your own.
Any change belongs in a conversation with the physician who prescribed it.
It also helps to share what you learn in the review with your specialist, so everyone works from the same information.
Within that framework, supportive options may include a tailored Nutritional Consultation, Stress Management, acupuncture, and in some cases a gentle Detox Program.
Each is chosen according to your assessment and described as support, not as a cure.
For those whose main concern is the gut, Leaky Gut Treatment and Inflammation Treatment are related areas the clinic covers.
Some symptoms need urgent medical attention and should not wait for a review: sudden weakness on one side of the body, loss of vision, chest pain, or rapidly worsening swelling or shortness of breath.
The clinic serves patients in Ramat Beit Shemesh and Givat Ze’ev (Jerusalem), and offers home visits throughout Israel for those who cannot travel.
Frequently asked questions
These are common questions from people considering a personalized review for an autoimmune concern.
Can a functional approach replace my immunosuppressive medication?
No.
A functional review is meant to complement your medical care, not replace it.
Medication decisions should always stay with your prescribing physician.
What should I bring to the first consultation?
Bring your recent blood test results, a list of medications and supplements, and any specialist letters you have.
A short note of when your symptoms began and what seems to worsen them is also useful.
Do I need a formal diagnosis before booking?
No.
Some people come with a confirmed diagnosis, others with ongoing symptoms and no clear answer.
The free 15-minute consultation is a way to discuss your situation and see whether a full review makes sense.
Does a family history of autoimmune diseases mean I will develop one?
Not necessarily.
A family history of autoimmune diseases raises the likelihood, but genes are only one factor.
Nutrition, stress, infections and other exposures also play a part, which is why a review looks at the whole picture.
Autoimmune Diseases and Personalized Care at רפואה פונקציונלית – ראובן בקרמס
When the body’s defenses turn on its own tissue, a generic answer rarely fits.
What tends to help is a careful look at the individual: their history, their lab markers, their nutrition, their hormones and the stress they carry.
רפואה פונקציונלית – ראובן בקרמס brings that look together under one roof.
Dr.
Bek’s more than 40 years in holistic and functional medicine, his New York State license as a chiropractor and naturopath, and a range of methods from functional nutrition to acupuncture and applied kinesiology all serve one aim: understanding why symptoms appear and building a plan around the person in front of him.
If you are living with one of the autoimmune diseases, or with symptoms that nobody has yet explained, the first step costs nothing.
Book your free 15-minute consultation at the Ramat Beit Shemesh or Givat Ze’ev (Jerusalem) clinic, or ask about a home visit, and take your next step with a clearer picture.